LORAIN — Finding one’s individuality comes through experiences.
Experiences fostered and molded during early childhood development and teenage years.
Camp I.D.E.A.S. (individually developed educational activities in the summer) has been helping special-needs children throughout Lorain County acquire those skills for the last 17 years.
For one month out of the summer, roughly 70 educators, mentors and aides come together to host the camp for special-needs children, ranging in ages from 3-15, to provide a functional approach to education, said Carol Mathews, director.
During their time in camp, 110 special-needs children spend five hours a day working on academics — on their own individual levels — based off reports provided by their teachers.
“It serves as a bridge, academically, from one school year to the next,” Mathews said.
By participating in the summer camp, children are able to enter the school year with the retained knowledge, keeping them from falling behind in their work, Mathews said
“The children don’t have that ‘loss’ that you normally have over the summer,” she said. “This keeps them actively involved academically for an extra month.”
As a reward for their hard work, campers were treated to a carnival July 16 at the Lorain Lighthouse United Methodist Church, 3015 Meister Road.
Intervention specialist Alecia DiSilvester said the church serves as campgrounds for the program; providing a less-intimidating atmosphere for children who tend to find it difficult learning in a classroom setting.
“When they start the school year, they have to get used to all of the kids,” DiSilvester said. “When they come to camp, they’re immediately in an environment that is comfortable, socially. Here, they are doing the academics in a friendly environment, so they’re so willing to learn.”
Through fun activities throughout the day, campers worked on communication, social skills and self-esteem, which Mathews said she hopes they will carry into the upcoming school year.
So often, campers’ days become routine and “in a box,” and by creating a fun, social atmosphere like a carnival, they’re given the freedom to experience things their peers encounter, all while learning, she said.
“We’re working on patience and turn taking, which becomes challenging for them sometimes,” Mathews said. “They become so caught up in the activities, they don’t realize these are things that they can do, so they succeed.”
Camp music director Cory Svette is testament to that success.
Diagnosed with autism, Svette began as a camper in the program at the age 8.
Difficulties reading different emotions and trying to fit in with different groups of children proved problematic for him, he said.
When he first came to camp, Svette said he was “devoid of all contact.”
He said he found it difficult to be in front of people or even communicate with them, putting him in a bubble.
“I liked being in my own personal space,” Svette said. “What really brought me out of it were the arts and music programs offered at camp. I really got attached to them.”
Now, at 24, the Baldwin Wallace University senior helms the choral and theatrical program he once fell in love with — along with his fellow students Alexander Healy and Joy DeMarco.
“This camp has helped me to exploit what I love and kind of grow on that a lot,” Svette said. “It has really helped me, and the kids that have followed, to open doors and realize what our potentials are.”
Svette says the camp has helped him understand what he is good at and molded his passion for performing by “jump-starting” him into a future and encouraging him to pursue a degree in vocal performance.
“It helped me understand how to grasp it and how to move forward through music,” he said.
“If it wasn’t for the teachers at this camp when I started at 8 years old, I don’t think I would have made it as far as I have.”